Just as he was feeling puzzled, Wu Ji asked, “What situation are they in? And what situation am I in?”

Lin Chengyou was pulled back to his senses by these words. Teng Yuyi wouldn’t act this way without reason, but with eyes and ears everywhere, any questions would have to wait. Suppressing his worry and confusion, he returned his attention to the matter at hand.

“Deng Weili was raised in the palm of the Deng family and the Duke of Wei’s mansion, pampered since childhood,” Wu Ji argued forcefully. “Teng Yuyi’s grandfather is a powerful foreign official whose influence spans the four seas, always doing as he pleases. Du Tinglan is the eldest daughter of her family, not having to face biased parents and brothers like I do. They can do and say whatever they want at home. Even if they aren’t selected as Crown Princess, their families will secure the best marriages for them. They have countless fallback options, but what about me? If I don’t fight for myself, who will?”

Wu Yuanluo gritted his teeth. “So you even schemed against your brother? The twisted ankle at Mount Li was your idea, yet afterward, you claimed I forced you to do it.”

Wu Ji laughed mockingly. “What’s wrong with that? The court was already likely to choose the next Crown Princess from among the Military Governors’ daughters. With Miss Teng’s talents and beauty, she had a high chance of being selected. If I could get my brother to show interest in Miss Teng, her selection might fall through. Why wouldn’t I take the chance to eliminate a strong competitor early? Besides, I didn’t harm anyone. Brother, weren’t you quite fond of Teng—”

“Let’s talk about what happened on the night of the Buddha’s Birthday Festival,” Lin Chengyou cut in abruptly. “Before coming here, I confirmed with your brother that he originally planned to escort you sisters to Qinglong Temple himself, but you tricked him.”

Wu Ji turned to look at Lin Chengyou.

Lin Chengyou’s expression was exceptionally cold. “You were originally supposed to meet classmates at Qinglong Temple at the beginning of the You hour, but you told him it was the middle of the You hour. By the time your brother rushed to Qinglong Temple, you had already manipulated your elder sister into luring Miss Deng onto the bridge. Then you used some method to keep your elder sister from returning to Chrysanthemum Frost Chamber – not a difficult trick to guess, simply exploiting the word ‘trust.’ I’m only curious about where the jewelry and love letter delivered to Miss Deng that night came from. The jewelry was an expensive Moon-Reflecting Pearl ornament, and the letter forged my handwriting. You arranged all this to make people suspect there was something between Miss Deng and me. Does Wang Mo know certain court officials? Otherwise, how could she imitate my handwriting?”

“I don’t know how she managed it,” Wu Ji said icily. “Each time she only told me part of the plan, telling me to handle my end of things. As for what happened on the other side, she never let me inquire. Take today’s events – I only learned last night that Miss Du’s poetry manuscript was sent to a graduate scholar named Lu Zhao’an. Wang Mo said Scholar Lu would also be accompanying the imperial procession out of the city tonight and told me to find a way to have the Peng sisters wet their skirts when he appeared.”

Lin Chengyou gave a cold laugh. “You may not have known the entire plan, but you certainly knew when they would strike. That night when the scapegoat Huo Songlin used dark magic to steal your elder sister’s soul, you sat chatting with your classmates by the window of Chrysanthemoth Frost Chamber. You did this to completely clear yourself of suspicion, but at that moment, just one word from you could have stopped this tragedy. Yet you watched with your own eyes as your elder sister was harmed. When you were just one step away, did you not feel even a shred of compassion?”

“Why should I feel compassion?” Wu Ji’s voice suddenly turned sharp. “That time on Mount Li, she knew that peasant woman was arranged by the Empress to test us. When she went back alone, did she warn me? When she replaced me in the Crown Princess selection, did she ever apologize to me? If she had even the slightest consideration for me as her sister, she wouldn’t have been so heartless—”

Wu Yuanluo cut her off harshly: “Elder Sister had no idea it was a test! Even our parents were kept in the dark about this. Elder Sister went back simply because of her kind nature! If you had shown any compassion toward a peasant woman, why would you need anyone’s reminder? Even now you still don’t understand? You’ve always been cold-hearted and selfish since you were young.”

Wu Ji narrowed her eyes.

Wu Yuanluo stared directly at Wu Ji and said hatefully: “You keep saying our parents and brother are biased, but have you forgotten what has happened over the years? Fine, if you don’t remember, let me help you recall.”

“People say pregnancy lasts ten months, but you were born at seven months,” Wu Yuanluo’s voice turned bitter. “Our parents, fearing you wouldn’t survive, specially invited a fortune teller to divine your fate. They hoped to hear something auspicious, but the fortune teller said you would bring disaster to the family. Father angrily had the fortune teller driven out and his love for you didn’t diminish one bit. You were sickly as a child, while Elder Sister was healthy. Before you were five, the whole family cherished you above all, while the care and attention given to Elder Sister was far less than what you received. Everything only began to change when you got malaria at age five.”

Wu Ji remained motionless.

Wu Yuanluo’s eyes were full of disappointment: “You were very ill that time. After returning from court each day, Father’s priority was to care for you at your sickbed. Mother and I stayed by your side day and night. The doctor said we needed blood from a sister as a catalyst. Elder Sister was only six, but she agreed without hesitation. Fearing we would exhaust ourselves, she helped serve medicine and soup. When you finally recovered, Elder Sister fell ill instead. But you showed no concern for your bedridden elder sister and even threw tantrums in your room because your parents and brother were busy taking care of her and neglecting you. From that time on, our parents realized you were a cold-hearted and selfish child. You were premature and weak, earning the family’s special care from birth. Over time, you seemed to forget that Elder Sister was also a daughter of the Wu family.”

“People’s hearts are made of flesh,” Wu Yuanluo’s eyes churned with dark waves. “When the brother was studying as a child, during the freezing twelfth month, Elder Sister would voluntarily help him tend the brazier, fearing he’d get chilblains while practicing calligraphy. When their brother told her to go back to her room, she insisted on staying with him. And you? During these times, you would complain that your brother only cared about studying and wouldn’t play with you. That time when my brother climbed a tree to get your kite, he sprained his ankle when jumping down. You said you were sorry, but it was Elder Sister who took care of him afterward. When your sisters returned from visiting your maternal grandfather’s home in Yingzhou, Elder Sister brought back lots of brother’s favorite rice cakes – he had only mentioned it once, but she remembered. When both sisters made shoes and socks for the brother, the Elder Sister always fit perfectly, while you didn’t even notice the brother’s foot size. When brother couldn’t wear the shoes you made and joked that they were a waste, you got angry, accused brother of favoring Elder Sister, and threw the shoes into the well in front of us.”

“Brother shouldn’t have taken these small matters to heart, but these weren’t just one or two incidents – they were years of daily interactions. These little things accumulated in his heart, and even the most unobservant person could feel the difference. As we grew older, my brother became increasingly aware that Elder Sister was peaceful and open-minded, while you were extremely narrow-minded. Over the years, Brother experienced too much sisterly care from Elder Sister and naturally became more fond of her in return. Just as she remembered that brother doesn’t like peach blossom vinegar, dislikes the smell of New Year’s wine, won’t eat raw fish, and avoids coriander – you knew none of these things, but Elder Sister remembered them all. So is it any wonder that brother remembered Elder Sister likes sesame?”

Wu Ji’s expression remained hard, but her eyes trembled slightly.

Wu Yuanluo laughed self-mockingly: “You mention that brother didn’t arrive in time to save you at the Yuzheng Daoist Temple, but never mention that brother was outside the city at the time. I rode back without rest, nearly falling from my horse in my hurry, yet was just one step too late. You’ve held this grudge until now, shutting brother out when I came to visit you in your room. Brother stood in the corridor facing that tightly closed door, a feeling I’ll never forget. My clothes were soaked with sweat from the urgent ride, and when the wind blew, it chilled me to the bone. But no matter how cold my body was, it couldn’t compare to the coldness in my heart.”

Wu Yuanluo’s throat tightened as he paused: “As for our parents, they would understand even better than I how your sisters behaved day to day. Countless small things accumulated over the years transformed their initial protective care for you into love for Elder Sister – everything had its reasons. Recently when Elder Sister’s engagement to the Zheng family was broken off, she wept in her room daily. My parents and I feared she might harm herself, so naturally showed her extra care. In your eyes, this all became the family’s favoritism toward Elder Sister. Did you never think that if you had been the one whose engagement was broken, Father would have done everything possible to support you too!”

“You’re lying!” Wu Ji’s lips trembled as tears streamed down her face. “Father would never support me. Even if I died, none of you would care. If you had shown even slightly more fairness in your hearts, I wouldn’t have come to this point today.”

“I’m lying?” Wu Yuanluo’s lips twitched. “You’re strong and healthy now, seeming to have forgotten how much our parents did for you when you were sick as a child. When Father heard there was a shaman doctor skilled in treating children’s illnesses in Xingyuan Prefecture, he traveled hundreds of li to invite him, missing the Personnel Ministry’s assessment and remaining as Vice Minister for ten full years as a result. Mother personally made your shoes and socks every year. When you were little and more sensitive to cold than other children, she always made your shoe soles and sock bottoms thicker and softer. You loved wearing red clothes since childhood, so Mother added many red silk and gauze garments to your wardrobe – these things are still stored in the chests in your room. Are you saying brother made all this up? As for how Elder Sister treated you, you know even better. She never touched the foods you liked, and no matter how much she liked a toy you wanted, she would give it up. Unfortunately, you only remember grievances, never kindness!”

Wu Ji’s body swayed as her tears flowed more forcefully. She bit her teeth and said hatefully: “You’re lying… you’re all such hypocrites! What do these small favors amount to? Whenever it came to important matters, you only had eyes for Elder Sister. I had already chosen a husband for myself, but you ruined everything for Elder Sister’s sake.”

Wu Yuanluo grew even more disappointed: “You should remember that recently Elder Sister asked who your beloved was. You said you wanted to choose your husband, but didn’t object when the family sent you to study at Xiangxiang Academy. We all suspected you had someone in mind, and that person was likely a member of the imperial clan. Not long after, when Elder Sister’s engagement to the Zheng family was broken off and the whole family was in despair, you immediately took congratulatory gifts to Prince Cheng’s mansion upon hearing it was his heir’s birthday. Sister and I were certain the Prince’s heir was your beloved, so afterward, Elder Sister agreed to enter the Crown Princess selection while Brother tried to arrange for you and the Prince’s heir to meet on Mount Li. We thought this would make everyone happy, but instead, it earned your hatred toward the whole family.”

Wu Ji’s tears froze.

Wu Yuanluo closed his eyes briefly: “Enough. I’ve said so much just to know one thing – after doing all this, have you felt even a moment of regret? Think of how Elder Sister was before, and look at how she is now. Can you sincerely say ‘I’m sorry’ to her from your heart?”

Wu Ji’s jaw clenched tight, but her lips continued to tremble.

Wu Yuanluo waited a moment with reddened eyes but was ultimately disappointed. He turned and knelt stiffly before the Emperor and Empress, then prostrated himself and said: “My father is bedridden, and my mother is busy caring for my elder sister. Tonight’s matters were handled by Yuanluo alone. The Wu family is unfortunate to have produced such a vicious member who committed heinous acts for selfish gain. Heaven’s net is vast, and this crime is unforgivable. As both the elder brother of the criminal and a relative of the victims, since learning the truth, my insides have been burning with shame and regret. I can only beg Your Majesty and the court to uphold justice for the victims. If there are responsibilities the Wu family must bear, we will not shirk them.”

The night wind blew past the courtyard torches as Wu Yuanluo’s words rang out, resolute and painful. The Emperor was moved and sighed: “Elder Miss Wu’s situation is pitiful and lamentable; Second Miss Wu’s viciousness is truly unforgivable. You’er, as the official investigating this case, what do you say?”

All eyes turned to Lin Chengyou.

Lin Chengyou spoke formally and directly: “‘Determine punishment to establish guilt, paint portraits to shame their hearts.’ The most innocent victim in this case was the commoner’s daughter Li Ying’er. She was only eleven, with no grudge against Wu Ji and the others. She was harmed simply because the criminals needed a cover. Recently when Magistrate Yan went to Yining Ward to investigate, he reported that Li Ying’er’s mother still weeps day and night. The people’s pain is the Emperor’s pain – I implore Your Majesty to impose severe punishment. The evidence against Wu Ji, Wang Mo, and Lu Zhao’an is clear. They should be immediately transferred to the Court of Judicial Review for detailed interrogation. Only by making an example of them can we deter future crimes.”

Every word rang out with force.

Teng Yuyi’s clenched fists slowly relaxed. With Lin Chengyou’s words, there was no need to worry about Wu Ji’s punishment being reduced.

No matter how vicious Second Miss Wu was, she was still the Wu family’s daughter. If Minister Wu or Madam Wu suddenly softened their hearts, they might plead for mercy before the Emperor.

How could she accept that?

Given Wu Ji’s poisonous heart, she couldn’t possibly feel any remorse, and from Wu Ji’s confession, she had clearly long viewed anyone who hindered her path to becoming Crown Princess as thorns in her eye.

In her previous life, she had died as innocently as Li Ying’er in this one. While Master Jingchen and the mastermind were unforgivable, Wu Ji’s jealousy was the main cause of her unjust death in her previous life.

She not only wanted Wu Ji to confess and face justice but also needed to find a way to make Wu Ji reveal all the clues she knew.

If she could successfully catch Master Jingchen’s mastermind, she would have her revenge.

She cast a grateful glance at Lin Chengyou, but he stared straight ahead, seemingly unaware.

The Emperor nodded approvingly: “Well said – ‘the people’s pain is the Emperor’s pain.’ Good child, the court should indeed uphold justice for its subjects. Just enforce the law fairly. Wang Mo must have a mastermind behind her. Have them taken away first, and remember to guard them strictly to prevent assassins from silencing them.”

Just as the bailiffs were about to bind Lu Zhao’an, he called out loudly: “Your Majesty, I merely bought a few bowls of porridge from Wang Mo’s stall. To claim I’m connected to these criminals based on this – not only do I dare not accept this, but the public would surely object.”

Lin Chengyou snorted: “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about you.”

He took out two letters with the names concealed and asked Lu Zhao’an: “Do you recognize these two letters?”

Lu Zhao’an’s face changed instantly.

“Both letters were written by you, Lu Zhao’an. One was written in Yangzhou during the Qingming Festival last year. The other was written after you came to Chang’an, at the end of the second month. Though nearly two years apart, these letters share a strange commonality – they both have two identical oil stains which, upon my master’s examination, proved to be traces left by a poison insect’s saliva. Master, please tell us what kind of poison this is.”

“The Love Poison,” Master Qingxu looked at Lu Zhao’an as if viewing filthy water. “This poison can bewitch people’s hearts – it’s most foul and base. It had disappeared from common areas years ago. Who would have thought it was still being used secretly in the Jiangnan region to harm people? Fortunately, your master encountered this poison before and could recognize it at a glance.”

Lin Chengyou glanced sideways at Lu Zhao’an: “Do you understand? The two victims showed admirable courage. After understanding what happened, to prevent you from harming others in the future, they voluntarily gave testimony to the Court of Judicial Review. Now with both witnesses and evidence present, we’re just waiting to bring you to justice. Additionally, to control you, Wang Mo had kept several of your letters—”

As he spoke, several skilled palace guards bound Lu Zhao’an tightly.

Lu Zhao’an’s face was like ash, looking worse than a dead man’s. His mouth was gagged with cloth and he could only stare fixedly at Lin Chengyou.

Lin Chengyou smiled: “I know what you’re thinking – with all the evidence, why let you quibble for so long? Of course, it was to see what other jokes you could make. In all my years handling cases, I’ve seen many vicious criminals, but few with skin as thick as yours. The more you pretend, the more everyone sees through your hypocrisy. Take him away!”

Just as the palace guards were about to gag Wu Ji, she suddenly said: “Wait!”

She cast a lingering look at the Crown Prince, then said dejectedly: “At this point, I have only one question. To ensure success, before taking action, I once took advantage of my classmates playing in Du Tinglan’s room to steal two of her poetry manuscripts. Even after I returned them, Du Tinglan never noticed – showing she didn’t pay attention to such small matters. Why did she notice so quickly that night? If she hadn’t reported it so quickly, you wouldn’t have been able to trace it to Wang Mo and uncover so much evidence.”

Lin Chengyou smiled: “I cannot tell you.”

Wu Ji looked unwillingly at Du Tinglan and Teng Yuyi seated above, suddenly seeming to realize something: “I understand now, was there something in the room—”

Lin Chengyou had already had her gagged.

Teng Yuyi watched Wu Ji coldly. Although she had entered the academy intending to catch criminals, she hadn’t expected things to become clear so quickly. The Hundred Flowers Trap she had set hadn’t been needed, yet she had unexpectedly caught the main culprit who had harmed her in her previous life in her sister’s room.

This truly seemed arranged by fate.

The bailiffs led Wang Mo and the other criminals away. Wu Ji stumbled a few steps, then suddenly turned to look at her brother watching from afar.

Suddenly, despite the bailiffs’ restraint, she knelt and kowtowed three times toward Wu Yuanluo, her movements urgent and heavy. After just a few times, her forehead was bleeding. Having done this, she turned away decisively and never looked back until she was escorted out of the garden.

Wu Yuanluo’s throat bobbed as he watched his second sister leave with an expressionless face.

No one knew for whom those three kowtows were meant.

Perhaps they were to apologize to her parents, or perhaps to say goodbye. Or perhaps her brother’s earlier reminiscences had finally awakened her conscience, and unable to bear the torment in her heart, she used this method to say to her poor sister:

I’m sorry.

***

The next evening, in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison.

Lin Chengyou said to Lu Zhao’an in the iron cell: “All right, I’ve brought Wang Mo to you.”

Lu Zhao’an slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing Wang Mo bound behind Lin Chengyou, his eyes involuntarily revealed an intense affection.

He seemed surprised himself, staring in horror at Lin Chengyou, mumbling as if asking: What did you do to me?

Lin Chengyou folded his arms: “Aren’t you supposed to be clever? If you can’t figure this out – I found a package of poison insects in the hidden compartment in your room. I didn’t understand how to use them yesterday, so I tested them on you today. Now Wang Mo is your beloved, so you’re always thinking of her. I knew you wanted to see her, so I brought her to you.”

Lu Zhao’an’s eyes suddenly widened. Wang Mo seemed stunned as well. Lin Chengyou had torn off the human skin mask from her face, revealing her true appearance – she was at least fifty years old, with dark skin and naturally sharp, critical triangular eyes.

Lu Zhao’an began struggling violently, seemingly wanting to dash his head against the prison wall and die, yet whenever his gaze passed over Wang Mo, he would immediately become entranced again.

Lin Chengyou looked innocent: “Good poison indeed, working instantly. How is it? Aren’t you happy to see Wang Mo?”

Lu Zhao’an tried his best to avoid looking at Wang Mo, staring fixedly at Lin Chengyou instead. His expression of hatred was clear: Lin Chengyou, a man can be killed but not humiliated – just kill me with one stroke.

Lin Chengyou moved Wang Mo to the torture device, making a show of preparing to torture her.

Lu Zhao’an’s face changed instantly as if seeing his most beloved suffer. He crawled to the front of the cage: Don’t hurt her, ask me whatever you want.

Then he realized what was happening and glared at Lin Chengyou with bloodshot eyes: You are utterly shameless.

Lin Chengyou’s smile grew more wicked. This method was something he and Teng Yuyi had thought up together that night.

It was ruthlessly effective.

For such a treacherous person, ordinary torture would barely scratch the surface. Only by making Lu Zhao’an personally experience what it felt like to have his mind controlled by the poison would truly be giving him a taste of his own medicine.

“Tell me, was it you and your accomplices who stole Young Master Hu Jizhen’s soul?” Lin Chengyou unhurriedly secured Wang Mo to the torture device.

Wang Mo, hardened by countless ordeals, wasn’t afraid of torture. The question was meant for Lu Zhao’an.

Lu Zhao’an’s jaw remained clenched, but his gaze couldn’t hide his deep pain and concern.

Lin Chengyou stepped aside and waved for the bailiffs to begin the torture. Seeing Wang Mo about to suffer greatly, Lu Zhao’an closed his eyes in agony: I’ll talk.

The bailiffs in the distance were all shocked. For a day and night, neither Wang Mo nor Lu Zhao’an would say a word, yet after Lin Chengyou’s manipulation, they immediately softened.

Lin Chengyou signaled the bailiffs to stop and removed the cloth from Lu Zhao’an’s mouth, saying coldly: “Who is the mastermind?”

Lu Zhao’an didn’t answer immediately, instead gazing at Wang Mo with infinite tenderness.

Lin Chengyou couldn’t help but click his tongue in disgust.

Even Wang Mo herself was thoroughly uncomfortable, keeping her eyes tightly shut and refusing to meet Lu Zhao’an’s gaze, clearly preferring torture to this situation.

The bailiffs could barely hold back their laughter. Official Lin’s idea was wicked, but it seemed remarkably effective.

Lu Zhao’an glared hatefully at Lin Chengyou: “As long as you don’t hurt her, I’ll tell you everything.”

Lin Chengyou waited for the nauseating feeling to pass before nodding with a smile: “Fine, I won’t hurt her.”

Lu Zhao’an was silent for a moment, then spoke expressionlessly: “After I came to Chang’an, I was always in contact with a woman called E Ji, but I don’t know who the mastermind is because many things were arranged through E Ji.”

Lin Chengyou was startled. Though he had long suspected E Ji was with Master Jingchen’s group, he hadn’t expected she was the one liaising with Lu Zhao’an.

“How did you meet her?”

“Before I left for Chang’an last year, a scholar named Wang Jiuen from Yangzhou came to find me. He knew some dark arts and gave me the love of poison insects years ago. He would regularly provide me with silver and seemed warmhearted, so even though I knew something was amiss, I still associated with him frequently. Wang Jiuen said with my scholarship, I would certainly pass the examinations, but if I wanted to enter officialdom, passing was only the first step. To rise quickly, I would need to make connections with important people in the capital. Following his instructions, as soon as I arrived in Chang’an, I went to find E Ji in Pingkang Ward, only to discover she was a madam at a brothel.”

As Lu Zhao’an spoke, he would occasionally glance at Wang Mo nearby. His expression twisted strangely, alternating between disgust and deep affection.

“Did E Ji ever reveal to you who her master was?”

Lu Zhao’an shook his head: “Before I passed the examinations, E Ji was very cold toward me. When she heard I placed first, she suddenly became warm, actively giving me silver and saying I had the talent to become Prime Minister. Hearing her speak, she didn’t sound like a courtesan, so I asked about her background. She said I would know when the time was right. She also said that scholarship alone wasn’t enough to pass the imperial examinations and that large amounts of silver were needed to smooth the way at court, but as long as I listened to her, these wouldn’t be problems. Later she introduced me to Wang Mo, saying when she couldn’t appear personally, I should contact Wang Mo instead.”

Lin Chengyou lowered his eyes in thought. It seemed this mastermind at least knew officials in the Ministry of Personnel or the Chancellery.

“Have you ever met Master Jingchen? Do you know if she’s working with E Ji?”

“I’ve never met her. From beginning to end, I only dealt with E Ji and Wang Mo. And after I passed the examinations, more and more influential people in Chang’an wanted to associate with me, and E Ji and Wang Mo drew me in even more.”

“Why was Hu Jizhen harmed?”

“That day I was at a banquet at the Duke of Ying’s mansion when a singing girl suddenly threw a paper ball at my feet. I picked it up and saw Wang Mo’s handwriting, telling me to return home immediately because an important person wanted to meet me. I rushed home, but unexpectedly Hu Jizhen saw me on the way. This young man was still holding a grudge about the incident at Prince Cheng’s mansion when I brushed him off and followed behind me. When I entered the house, I saw Wang Mo and Wang Jiuen, which was quite surprising since I hadn’t seen Wang Jiuen since parting in Yangzhou. Just as I was about to close the door, Hu Jizhen pushed his way in, saying: ‘I just want to ask Brother Lu one question, then I’ll leave.'”

Wang Jiuen and Wang Mo’s faces changed instantly, and there were sounds from inside the room, clearly indicating other guests.

Hu Jizhen quickly recovered his composure and was about to bow politely when, quick as lightning, Wang Mo whipped out her silver threads to kill him.

Lu Zhao’an was terrified but then heard someone inside the room make a sound, as if tapping on a table, and Wang Mo immediately withdrew her silver threads, instead throwing a large talisman at Hu Jizhen.

Lin Chengyou asked with a dark expression: “Was the mastermind in the room at that time?”

“I don’t know. Wang Mo cast dark magic on Young Master Hu right in front of me. I was shocked and frightened, fearing I would be next. Wang Mo said she would handle everything else and told me to return to the Duke of Ying’s mansion immediately, pretend nothing had happened, and continue drinking with the others. I did as she said, and when I returned, Wang Mo and Wang Jiuen were gone. The next day I heard Young Master Hu had gone mad.”

“You never once saw the mastermind?”

Lu Zhao’an shook his head again: “I haven’t even seen E Ji recently. Wang Mo said she was being watched because of the incident at Caifeng Tower and probably couldn’t move around for a long time. She told me to come to her if I needed anything and not go to Pingkang Ward.”

Lin Chengyou lowered his eyes in thought. This thread seemed to be becoming clearer. He asked another question: “Did you ever look for Wang Jiuen afterward? Where does he live in Chang’an?”

“He lives in an old mansion in Moth Alley.”

Moth Alley? Lin Chengyou was startled. The name was familiar. Yes, he remembered Teng Yuyi telling him that when Duan Fu accidentally discovered someone in a black cloak at the Yuzheng Daoist Temple, he immediately gave chase, following to Moth Alley where the cloaked figure vanished.

“Are you telling the complete truth? If there’s even half a lie, I’ll certainly give your beloved another good treatment.” Lin Chengyou said with a smile while ordering the bailiffs to secure Wang Mo to the torture device again.

Lu Zhao’an looked at Wang Mo with complete devotion, hating his helplessness. After struggling for a while, he said with a pale face: “Don’t humiliate her. I- I’m telling the truth.”

Lin Chengyou shook off his goosebumps. The method was effective, but far too nauseating. Just as he was about to continue questioning, an old bailiff named Li Si came in and said: “Official Lin, there’s a young master Wang outside who urgently needs to see you.”

Lin Chengyou tensed, about to rise, but checked the time and cautiously asked: “What does he look like?”

“Fair and clean, very beautiful. Tsk tsk, I’ve never seen such a handsome young master before,” Li Si remarked.

Lin Chengyou’s amusement almost showed on his face. It must be Teng Yuyi. He didn’t rush to leave, instead asking casually: “How many people are with her? Did they say what it’s about?”

“There’s a big strong man with him, said there’s something very urgent they need to discuss with Official Lin.”